Apparatus for drying and sterilizing cereals.



N0- 804,876. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905. E. I. NOXON.

APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND STERILIZING CEREALS.

APPLICATION FILED J 14 190 Um 5 ssnnn'rs-snnm 1.

INVENTOR: 6A 7.

By /%;0RNEK WITNESSES:

No. 804,876. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

E. I. NOXON.

APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND STERILIZING CEREALS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1905. 3 SHEETS SHEE 2.

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No. 804,876. PATENTED NOV. 21, 1905.

v E. I. NOXON. APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND STERILIZING CEREALS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1905.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

wi/bwwow ELWIN I. NOXON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

APPARATUS FOR DRYING AND STERILIZING CEREALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1905.

Application filed June 14,1905- Serial No. 265,122.

To a whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'ELWIN I. N OXON, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Apparatuses for Drying andSterilizing Cereals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for drying and sterilizing cereals in agranular form, and speclfically to a process for 1nsur1ng greaterconvenience and regularity in such treatment,

whereby all of the granular particles are treated alike, and mechanicalmeans for carrying out said process.

In the drawings accompanying this specification andforming part thereof,in which like numbers of reference denote like parts wherever theyoccur, Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a vertical section. Fig.3

is a top plan view; and Fig. 4: is a sectional extent had remaineddormant during cold weather. This to a large extent had the effect ofcausing such articles to be regarded as suitable food only for thewinter months, while as a matter of fact no inherent objection existedto their consumption in summertime as well as winter. The presence ofinsect life is objectionable at all times, however, and it will beobvious that unless the product is absolutely freed therefrom by theextermination of all forms thereof, whether developed or merely in germform, the'objection will remain. The existence of any germs in such aproduct will result in their propagation and development when favorableconditions of temperature surround them. To prevent this, it isimportant that absolute sterilization of the product shall take placebefore it leaves the manufacturers hands. If, for instance, more thanninety-nine per cent. of a millers product is completely sterilized, buta fraction of one per cent. thereof contains some germs, the reanimationand development of said germs when the goods have been shipped todistant places will not only cause individual packages in the retailersstock to become alive with animalcules, and thereb ruin the reputationof the particular brand of goods, but also the presence of animal orgerm life in this form in a single package will cause its propagation inthe remainder of the grocers stock, or a large portion. thereof, andthus produce large loss. From this it will be evident that anyimprovement tending to produce better or complete sterilization of suchproducts is of the highest importance.

My improved process consists in agitating such products while the sameare being sterilized so that all parts of a given quantity are equallysubjected to the sterilizing influence-such as, for instance, heatapplied in the form of steam or otherwise. It is obvious that if acereal product in a granular condition were fed by ordinary means in apath past or adjacent to such sterilizing means some particles would bein closest contact therewith, while others would not so immediatelyadjoin same. Some at least of the last-named particles would thereforeescape adequate contact with said sterilizing means and the germsaccompanying same would not be properly aifected thereby. From thiswould result in the manner hereinabove described the dissemination ofpackages of the product containing incipient insect life, with all theattendant disadvantages indicated above.

My improvement in processes of sterilizing cereals consists, therefore,in the agitation thereof while undergoing the sterilizing treatment,which may consist of the stirring, mixing, rocking, shaking, or othermanipulation thereof to produce such agitation of all the particles asto bring them without exception directly and adequately into such closecontact with or juxtaposition to the sterilizing means as thoroughly toeliminate and exterminate the germs.

prevented by the apparatus hereinafter described.

The metal casing lis preferably cylindrical in shape and'is formed withan aperture 2,

- the several tubes 6 project.

through which steam is admitted into the steam-space 3 from thesteam-pipe 4. leading from a suitable source of supply, to which pipe 4,if desired, may be attached a steamgage 5.

36 denotes an additional steam'or heat inlet, which may be used whenenough steam cannot be introduced through pipe 4 or when it is desiredto introduce steam from both sides of the casing lat the same time.

Within the casing 1 a plurality of vertical feed-tubes .6 is located,each of same containing within it an agitator, clearly shown in thedrawings as consisting of a reciprocating spiral wire 7.

The granular product is fed into the hopper 8, which is mounted upon theframe 9, which by supports 10 is borne by the casing 1 and itselfsustains the standards 11, containing the bearings 12 for theoperating-shaft 13. Oilcups 14 surmount the bearings 12.

When the grain i sfed into the hopper 8, it passes by gravity throughsame and falls upon the rotary deflector-plate 15, which is fixed to thevertical shaft 16, which passes through the hopper 8 and also throughthe cross-head 17, supported by the cross-bar 18, borne by the standards11. Fixed to the vertical shaft 16 is the miter-gear 19, which mesheswith the gear 20, which in turn is fixed to the operating-shaft 13, fromwhich the shaft 16 thus derives rotary motion.

The deflector-plate 15 causes the granular product to fall away from thecenter and feed into the various tubes 6, which are spaced apart, so asto allow a steam-space between and around them all, there being also alarger central steam-space in that portion of cylinder 1 immediatelysurrounding theshaft 16. The article being treated is prevented fromfalling into any part of the steam-space 3 by the plate 21, which coverssame and through which A second deflector 22, located underneath thedeflector 15, keeps the article being treated away from the shaft 16,and the tube 23, through which same passes, being provided with a sleeve24, which encircles the shaft 16 and projects upward into the funnel ofthe deflector 15. The vertically reciprocating agitators 7 cause thegranular product to feed downwardly through the tubes 6 out of the spacewithin the cylinder or casing 1 above the plate 21. The plate 21 isprovided with the flange 25, by which the same is riveted to the casing1.

As the article to be sterilized passes through the tubes 6 it issubjected to the drying and sterilizing heat of the steam filling thesteamspace 3, which completely surrounds each one of the tubes 6, asclearly shown in Fig. 4, and the vertically-reciprocating movement ofthe spiral wires 7 causes all particles of the product thus fed throughthe tubes 6 to get in contact with the walls of said tubes 6, and thusequally to receive the sterilizing benefit of the heat of saidsteam-space. By this means when the same makes its exit through thebottom openings of the tubes 6 all particles have been equally andproperly sterilized. Thereupon the product falls into the hopper26,which is provided with double walls 27 and 28, the space in betweensame being either an air-space or a space filled with mineral wool orother non-conductor of cold, so as to prevent the sweating of the cerealas it emerges from the heated tubes 6. The hopper 26 will be suitablyconnected at 29 to a run or conveyer. Within the hopper 26 is located arotary deflector 30, fixed to the shaft 16, from which it derives itsmotion. As the tendency of grain or like article isoto run from thecenter, so as to leave a hollow cone, I have provided a pair of arms 31and 32, the former projecting upwardly within the hopper 26 and thelatter downwardly within the same, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, to act asstirrers for the part of the product adjacent to the wall 27 of thehopper 26, same rotating with the conical deflector 30. The hopper 26 issurmounted by a plate 33, having a flange 34, by which it is riveted tothe casing 1, said plate 33 closing the bottom of the steam-space 3 andpreventing the water of condensation from entering the hopper 26. TheWater of condensation has its exit through the pipe 35.

It will be observed that the arms 31 and 32 are of the peculiar angularshape illustrated in Fig. 2 and project, first, in a right line from thedeflector 30, then at an angle of ninety degrees, and then at a lessangle, and overlap the lowest portion of the casing 1, so as to agitatethe material in the hopper 26 when the same is completely filled up tothe plate 33. The hopper 26 is securely fastened to the casing 1 by thebolts 37, fastened by thumb-nuts 38.

The operation of the vertically-reciprocating agitators 7 is produced bythe shaft 13, to the ends of which are fixed the disks 39, havingconnecting-rods 40 eccentrically-attached thereto at 41. At their otherends said connecting-rods 40 are attached to the carrier board or frame42, to which are bolted or otherwise fixed the depending rods 43, intothe ends of which are let in and soldered the ends of the spiral wires7. As will be evident, when the shaft 13 rotates the disks 39 revolvewith it, and by reason of the eccentric connection therewith of theconnecting-rods 40 the board or frame 42 is given averticallyreciprocating motion, which is naturally imparted to the wires7. The motion of the spiral wires 7 is not, however, that of rapidreciprocation, but rather consists, first, of a step-by-step movement inone direction and then, second, of a step-by-step movement in the otherdirection. This is caused by the fact that the rocking arm 44, which isloosely mounted upon shaft 13 and held from lateral displacement thereonby the block 45, which holds it in engagement with the ratchet 46,

imparts motion to the shaft 13 by means of the engagement of the pawl 47with the teeth of the ratchet 46 (the latter being fixed to the shaft13) by the pawl 47 pushing the ratchet 46 in the direction indicated bythe arrow in Fig. 1, the degree of movement thus imparted 53, in whichthe end of the connecting-rod 48 has been adjusted, and thus pulls thearm 48 to the right in Fig. 1, thus actuating the arm 44 and causing thepawl 47 to push against one of the teeth of the ratchet 46, and thus torotate the shaft 13, and with it the disks 39, a predetermined distanceproportioned to the length of one or more teeth on the ratchet 46.

This causes the eccentrics 41 to travel, and with them theconnecting-rods 40, which, according to the relative position of saideccentric 41, either raises or depresses the carrier board or frame 42,and with it the agitators 7. If in this manner nine movements of thepawl 47 are required'so to rotate the shaft 13 that the eccentrics 41are raised to the highest position on disks 39, then nine partialmovements will be made by the agitators 7 within the tubes 6 before theyhave traveled the greatest possible distance in their ascent. When theeccentrics 41 pass the highest position and begin their descent in therevolution of the disks 39, the agitators 7 are also depressed and inthe illustration used above will reach their lowest point of travel atthe end of nine partial movements. At the same time that the eccentrics39 on shaft 13 thus cause the movement of the agitators 7 the gear 20,also on shaft 13, by meshing with the gear 19 on vertical shaft 16causes the rotation of the latter, and with it the rotation of thedeflectors 15 and 30 and arms 31 and 32. Retrogressive motion by ratchet46 is prevented by stop 54, pivoted to standard 55..

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casingproviding a heatspace, means located within same for the passage of thearticle to be sterilized, means within the latter for agitating thearticle undergoing sterilization, said agitating means consisting of areciprocating spiral wire, and means for reciprocating said agitators.

2. In a machine of the character described, a heat-container, feed meansfor passing the article to be sterilized therethrough, agitatorsoperating within said feed means, said agitators consisting ofreciprocating spiral wires, and means for reciprocating said wires.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casingacting as a heatcontainer, grain feed tubes passing therethrough,traveling agitators located in said tubes, said agitators consisting ofspiral wires, and means for imparting motion to said agitators.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of aheat-container, individual grain-feeds spaced apart located therein,individual reciprocating agitators consisting of spiral wires passingthrough said grainfeeds, and means for imparting motion to saidagitators whereby the same travel by astepby-step movement, first in onedirection, and then in the other.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of afeed-hopper and an exithopper, a casing consisting of a heat-containerlocated between said hoppers, a portion above said heat-container actingas a grain-container, a plurality of tubes communicating between saidgrain-container and said exit-hopper, and said tubes being so disposedas to have a heat space surrounding each, a spiral wire located in eachof said tubes and acting as an agitator to bring all parts of the grainbeing sterilized equally into contact with the heat, and means forimparting reciprocating motion to said agitators.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of aheat-container, feed means for passing the article to be sterilizedtherethrough, and agitators operating within said feed means, whichagitators are each formed of a spiral wire which passes completelythrough said feed means from end to end.

7. In a machine of the character described the combination of a heatcontainer, feed means for passing the article to be sterilizedtherethrough, and agitators operating within said feed means, whichagitators are formed of a spiral wire which passes completely throughsaid feed means from end to end and projects slightly beyond said feedmeans at least at one end.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a heatcontainer, feed means for passing the article to be sterilizedtherethrough, agitators operating within said means, said agitatorshaving a spiral form, whereby the material acted upon in all its partsis caused to get in contact with the heating-surface, and means formoving said agitators. I

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of afeed-hopper and an exithopper, a casing constituting a heat-containerlocated between said hoppers, a portion above said heat-container actingas a grain-container, a plurality of tubes communicating between saidgrain-container and said exit-hopper, said tubes being so disposed as tohave a heat-space I surrounding each, and a pair of spreaders underneathsaid feed-hopper, one of same being rotary, and the other stationary,the stationary one terminating in a sleeve which projects above thelowest line of the upper one.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of acasing, in its lower portion constituting a heat-container, and in itsupper portion a cereal-container, an exit-hopper beneath saidheat-container, means communicating with said exit-hopper from saidcereal-container passing through said heatcontainer, and a rotary shaftpassing through said cereal-container and said heat-container, andprojecting into said exit-hopper, a deflector being mounted upon thatpart of said shaft extending into the exit-hopper and rotatingtherewith.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination of acasing, in its lower portion constituting a heat-container, and in itsupper portion a cereal-container, an exit-hopper beneath saidheat-container, means communicating with said exit-hopper from saidcereal-container passing through said heatcontainer, a rotary shaftpassing through said cereal-container and said heat-container, andprojecting into said exit-hopper, a deflector being mounted upon thatpart of said shaft extending into the exit-hopper and rotatingtherewith, and one or more arms borne by said deflector and rotatingtherewith.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of acasing, in its lower portion constituting a heat-container, and in itsupper portion a cereal-container, an exithopper beneath saidheat-container, means communicating with said exit-hopper from saidcereal-container passing through said heatcontainer, a rotary shaftpassing through said cereal-container and said heat-container, andprojecting into said exit-hopper, a deflector being mounted upon thatpart of said shaft extending into the exit-hopper and rotatingtherewith, and a pair of arms borne by said deflector and rotatingtherewith, one of same projecting upwardly from said deflector, and theother downwardly therefrom.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of acasing, in its lower por tion constituting a heat-container, and in itsupper portion a cereal-container, an exit-hopper beneath saidheat-container, means communicating with said exit-hopper from saidcereal-container passing through said heatcontainer, a rotary shaftpassing through said cereal-container and said heat-container, andprojecting into said exit-hopper, a deflector being mounted upon thatpart of said shaft extending into the-exit-hopper and rotatingtherewith, and a pair of arms borne by said deflector and rotatingtherewith, one of same projecting upwardly from said deflector, and theother downwardly therefrom, said upwardly projecting arm overlapping bya straight extension the lowest wall of said casing.

14:. Inamachine of the character described, the combination of aheat-container, a plurality of tubular grain-feeds spaced apart locatedtherein, individual reciprocating agitators passing through saidgrain-feeds, said agitators each consisting of a spiral wire, and meansfor imparting motion to said agitators.

15. In amachine of the character described, the combination of aheat-container, a plurality of tubes located within same for feeding thearticle to be sterilized th'erethrough, an agitator located within eachof said tubes, means for holding each of said agitators in fixedrelation to its respective tube, an operating-shaft, an eccentric meansfixed to said shaft and connected to said means for holding saidagitators for imparting movement to the same, and means for rotatingsaid shaft.

16. In a machine of the character described, the combination of aheat-container, a plurality of tubes located within same for feeding thearticle to be sterilized therethrough, an agitator located within eachof said tubes, means for holding each of said agitators in portion ofthe I fixed relation to its respective tube, an operating-shaft, aneccentric means fixed to said shaft and connected to said means forholding said agitators for imparting movement to the same, means forrotating said shaft, said means comprising a ratchet fixed to saidoperatingshaft, a rocking arm loosely mounted on said shaft and injuxtaposition to said ratchet, said arm bearing a pawl adapted to engagethe teeth of said ratchet, and means for imparting motion to saidrocking arm.

17. In a machine of the character described, the combination of aheat-container, a plurality of tubes located within same for feeding thearticle to be sterilized therethrough, an agitator located within eachof said tubes, means for holding each of said agitators in fixedrelation to its respective tube, an operating-shaft, an eccentric meansfixed to said shaft and connected to said means for holding saidagitators for imparting movement to the same, means for rotating saidshaft, said means comprising a ratchet fixed to said operatingshaft, arocking arm loosely mounted on said shaft and in juxtaposition to saidratchet, said arm bearing a pawl adapted to engage the teeth of saidratchet, and means for imparting motion to said rocking arm, said meansfor rocking said arm consisting of a shaft suitably actuated and bearinga slotted arm fixed thereto, the slot therein providing means foradjustment of the scope of motion of said rocking arm.

18. In a machine of the character described, the combination of acasing, forming in one portion a heat-container, and in the other agrain-container, means passing through the heat-container for passingthe grain therethrough, an exit-hopper located underneath saidheat-container, a vertical rotary shaft passing through saidgraincontainer and through said heat-container and into said exithopper,a deflector located in said exit-hopper and adapted to rotate with saidshaft, a rotary spreader also mounted upon said shaft and located withinsaid grain-container, agitators located within the means for conveyingthe 10 grain from the grain-container to the exit-hopper and through theheat-container, said agitators having motion imparted to them from anoperating-shaft, said operating-shaft also having means mounted thereon,engaging means mounted upon said vertical shaft whereby the latter isrotated by the same operatingshaft that actuates the agitators.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

ELWIN I. NOXON.

Witnesses:

M. E. JoHNsoN, GLADYs WALTON.

